HARARE - A 36-year-old man who raped his 14-year-old daughter while his son watched and whose step mother later told the child “don’t worry it happens in life” has been jailed.

The man, whom we cannot name to protect the identity of the child, infected her with a sexually transmitted infection. He will spend the next 20 years in jail.

The New Marlborough man raped his minor daughter twice, first while her brother watched and the second with his second wife’s knowledge.

He would also go on to threaten his children’s lives if they disclosed to anyone.

Facts are that sometime in February, the minor was sleeping with her brother on the floor while her father was on the bed with his wife.

The father then moved from the bed and raped the girl once.

Prosecutors said on the day she was raped, the girl was not feeling well and could not feel anything but her brother saw their father in her blankets.

The court heard that the following morning, her step mother told the girl not to worry about the rape, saying “it happens in life” and that is when she discovered that she had been raped.

It was further proved in March, after her father separated from her step mother, the father came home and started fondling her. He forced her to remove her clothes.

He also assaulted the girl’s brother, forcing him to sleep before raping her.

After the act, he threatened the two children with death if they revealed the matter to anyone.

The court heard that the matter came to light after the minor’s aunt noticed her having difficulties in walking, with revelations that she had been infected with warts.

An anonymous call was made to Marlborough Police Station of a possible abuse of the minor.

A medical affidavit reportedly showed that the girl had been raped. - Helen Kadirire